Summary
Making a series out of a movie is a risky endeavor, butPeacemakerhit it out of the park as a direct continuation ofJames Gunn’s 2021The Suicide Squad. It brings back characters from that movie in bigger roles and introduces new faces. They all play their part in making the show a unique, darkly comedic spectacle, but who is the best of the best?
Remember, being the best character does not necessarily make somebody the best person. The whole show is about redemption and coming to terms with past sins, but at least one character on this list is wholly irredeemable.
9Judomaster
Not A Fleshed Out Personality, But Still Fun
The show is filled with complex characters with flaws they come to realize and attempt to reconcile. Judomaster is a little more two-dimensional, but that’s fine. The character still serves a purpose in the plot and it is endlessly entertaining when he shows up.
The fight scenes he has throughout the eight episodes are always creative, hectic, and fun. With the Butterflies' plan being thwarted, it will be interesting to see what he does in season 2.
8Eagly
The List Is “Best Characters”, Not “Best Humans”
Move over, dogs. It turns out that the Bald Eagle is truly a man’s best friend. Eagly does not speak, but his personality shines through in the various interactions he has with the other characters in the show. He’s also key in one of the show’s pivotal moments.
After Adebeyo sees Eagly hug the titular character at a vulnerable moment, it convinces her not to abandon the team and she joins them on their climactic attack on the Butterflies. The fact that Peacemaker’s best friend does not speak andmost likely does not understand spoken languagealso says a lot about the hero’s personality and social life.
7Clemson Murn
A Serious Character With A Serious Secret
At the start of the show, Agent Murn feels like the typical boss of the team. He takes no nonsense and does not give any out, either. He shows depth once his true identity is revealed. He is one of the few Butterflies who rejects the species' plan to rule Earth from the shadows.
He still had to take over someone’s body, but he laments how miserable of an experience it was. He even makes the ultimate sacrifice going against his own kind. Murn had the opportunity to seize power along with the other Butterflies but opted to try and save humanity instead, being a great example for all.
6Emilia Harcourt
More Than The Tough Agent Archetype
Emilia Harcourt was in the 2021Suicide Squadmovie. Her character in the show is given more depth than thecold-hearted agent persona she has in the movie. Her relationship with Peacemaker is not simple either.
There is a clear love interest, but it’s not the tired cliche of the flawed hero getting the girl as a reward after having completed his redemption arc. The season ends with her in a hospital bed reaching out to hold Peacemaker’s hand, leading to numerous possibilities for how their relationship can develop in the next season.
5Vigilante/Adrian Chase
A Little Slow To Realize The Important Things
Vigilante is Peacemaker’s number one fan. He is the type of guy who desperately wants to be liked by his hero. As the show goes on and Peacemaker experiences growth, Adrian Chase is not as quick to grasp the changes his friend is experiencing.
He is like a control group reminding the audience of where Peacemaker was at the beginning of the show versus where he is in the later episodes. He is unhinged enough to suggest killing innocent veterinarians because they saw his and Peacemaker’s faces. On the other hand, he still hates Nazis and white supremacists, so that is cool.
4John Economos
A Team Player Who Gets Too Much Hate
John Economos is the punchline to some of Peacemaker’s harshest jokes. Despite this, he is consistently engaging in heroic’s far beyond expectations. All the same, he still ends up breaking his leg after a simple trip in the woods.
His infiltration of the farm where the “Cow” is held during the last episode forces him to open up about why he dyes his beard, which Peacemaker and the rest of the team overhear through their communication devices. Hearing this makes the main character realize how cruel his jabs at him have been throughout the series.
3Leota Adebayo
Amanda Waller’s Daughter
Having Amanda Walleras a mother is a hard cross to bear. At least it got Leota Adebayo an easy job. Unfortunately, it also meant that she was hired for the purpose of spying on the team for her mother.
We see her grapple with the conflict of betraying the group she calls her friends. She eventually comes clean and takes a lot of heat for it, but does what she can to make up for it. By the end of the season, she is redeemed, at least in Peacemaker’s eyes.
2August Smith/White Dragon
An Evil Villain At Fault For Peacemaker’s Worst Traits
Robert Patrick has played Elvis Presley’s dad, Johnny Cash’s dad,and now Peacemaker’s father.He gives a stunning performance as August Smith, with scenes that explain so much about why Peacemaker is who he is.
The show usually keeps its humorous edge even as it deals with serious themes and deep drama, but the darkest moments come from The White Dragon berating his son over what he perceives as grave weaknesses. Even though Peacemaker kills him, the end of the season implies that the hero is not fully rid of the psychological damage his father’s upbringing caused.
1Christopher Smith/Peacemaker
The Show Dares Viewers To Like Him
Peacemaker is a straight-up villain inThe Suicide Squad. He kills a major character on orders from the corrupt Amanda Waller.The show sees him on a redemption arc,but it is not as simple as him turning a new leaf and becoming a good person by the end of the show.
He still retains many habitual flaws from his upbringing but is at least on the right path. His decision to destroy the Cow after hearing the Butterflies' plan to control the world as a means to protect it shows him turning away from his fascist leanings, which were on full display in his feature debut.
To Top it all off, John Cena simply lights up every scene he is in with the performance.
